Long Beach laughed, danced, mourned, sang, flipped, walked, protested, fell and saluted in 2018. Here are some of our best photos of the year.

Protesters get a thumbs up from a passing motorist as thousands show up to protest Trump’s zero tolerance policy as they marched from Cesar E. Chavez Park to Glenn Anderson Federal Building in Long Beach June 30, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova
Jacob Ingram, of Long Beach, joins thousands in protest of Trump’s zero tolerance policy in front of the Glenn Anderson Federal Building in Long Beach June 30, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova
Trey Wood loses his skateboard during his run as he competes in the Team Challenge Park at the Dew Tour in Long Beach June 30, 2018. More than 80 of the world’s best male and female skaters compete at Dew Tour in competitions that include men’s and women’s individual Pro and Amateur Park and Street competitions, Dew Tour’s signature Transworld Skateboarding Team Challenge, a Switch Jam and a skateboard legends Love+Guts Jam. The entire Dew Tour event is free and open to the public.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Long Beach firefighters embrace after a reported firefighter was shot during an active shooter at a senior apartment building in Long Beach June 25, 2018. Long Beach Fire Capt. David Rosa was shot and killed by a 77-year-old man, Thomas Kim, when the firefighters entered the complex after a reported explosion.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
A crowd gathers as most watch acrobats perform on a hoop on the top deck as the Queen Mary hosts an All-American 4th of July with live entertainment, family games, arts & crafts and special historic tours along with a signature fireworks spectacular on the legendary ship in Long Beach July 4, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Heat waves come off the sand as bikers ride along the path near Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier as Long Beach prepares for a heat wave in Long Beach July 5, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia speaks at an inauguration ceremony for new leaders who were sworn into new terms on July 17, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Fireworks fill the air as the Queen Mary hosts an All-American 4th of July with live entertainment, family games, arts & crafts and special historic tours along with a signature fireworks spectacular on the legendary ship in Long Beach July 4, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Angel Lomas serves up a Jamaica aguas frescas while working at Aguas Way restaurant in North Long Beach on Friday, July 27, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
District 9 Councilman Rex Richardson’s daughter looks up as her father is sworn into a second term at the inauguration ceremony in Long Beach July 17, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
A couple jumps into the air while on the Queen Mary at an All-American 4th of July with live entertainment, family games, arts & crafts, and special historic tours along with a signature fireworks spectacular on the legendary ship in Long Beach July 4, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Leoh Sandoval, owner, at his restaurant Aguas Way in North Long Beach on Friday, July 27, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Leah McKenzie, of Long Beach 21, stands in front of the mural that she was the inspiration for painted in the city’s northside reflecting Samoan culture in Long Beach July 18, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Jim Danno of the Long Beach Public Works Department comes across a downed street sign on Pacific Place in Long Beach July 16, 2018. There are signs of Danno all over the south half of the city. He repairs, installs, cleans up and otherwise maintains city signs, roughly 100,000 of them in his half of the city, a territory that stretches from just east of the 605 Freeway to the Terminal Island Freeway, between Wardlow Road and the Pacific Ocean. Another worker does the north half of the city, and a third person does installations and repairs of the higher signs, such as the ones that stretch out over intersections.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
A woman takes a walk along Redondo Avenue as she takes shade under an umbrella as temperatures rise for another Southern California heat wave in Long Beach Aug. 6, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
A woman makes her way through the crowd during the Long Beach Jazz Festival at the Rainbow Lagoon Park in Long Beach Aug. 11, 2018. The jazz festival is the most consistent, upscale, and most celebrated 3-generation, family-produced jazz festival in Southern California. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
A man walks along the Queens Bay as the Queen Mary and a Carnival Cruise ship is seen on a Friday afternoon in Long Beach Aug. 24, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Harold Brown, 72, drummer for War and Low Rider Band stands in the gymnasium where he learned to play the drums and holds his award that he is most proud of, best citizen award that he received when he was a youth at the 113-year-old First Lutheran Church in Downtown Long Beach August 29, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova
Jose Osuna, a reformed convict and gang member, stands in his neighborhood that he grew up in now he is helping the community in Long Beach Aug. 17, 2018. Osuna became and was jumped in as a gang member at the age of nine.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova
The Aquarium of the Pacific’s Magellanic penguin chicks hatched in May make their public debut and join their parents, siblings, and other birds in the June Keyes Penguin Habitat In Long Beach Sept. 12, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova
A jogger runs along there coast at Bluff Park In Long Beach Sept. 24, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
A group walks away after taking a group photo at Music Taste Good music festival In Long Beach Sept. 29, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Amari Alford, 10, hugs his father during a vigil for his older brother Guy Alford III, 20, who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant the two nights before In Long Beach Sept. 27, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Bre Alford sheds tears during a vigil for her cousin Guy Alford III, 20, who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant the two nights before In Long Beach Sept. 27, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Friends, family, and community members comfort each other as they gather for a vigil for Guy Alford III, 20, who was shot and killed in a drive-through fast food restaurant the two nights before In Long Beach Sept. 27, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Guy Alford holds a photo of his son Guy Alford III, 20, In Long Beach Sept. 26, 2018. Alford came out to see where his son was killed the night before at a drive-through of a fast food restaurant on the 5100 block of Atlantic Ave.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
SAViii 3rd of Long Beach just signed to Birdman, music mogul, In Long Beach Sept. 20, 2018. Birdman is responsible for helping kickstart the careers of Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj announced the launch of Cash Money West, a California-based Cash Money imprint he’s started with SAViii 3rd being the first to sign to the new label.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
DJ Dennis Owens spins vinyl at his home, the 20th anniversary of Good Foot, a long-running monthly funk, Motown, soul night led by the DJ will take place at Alex’s Bar In Long Beach Sept. 23 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
SAViii 3rd of Long Beach just signed to Birdman, music mogul, In Long Beach Sept. 20, 2018. Birdman is responsible for helping kickstart the careers of Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj announced the launch of Cash Money West, a California-based Cash Money imprint he’s started with SAViii 3rd being the first to sign to the new label.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Smoke comes off the roof of a home as Long Beach firefighters knock down an abandon home fire at Daisy Avenue and Burnett Street in Long Beach Sept. 4, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Mike Vanderipe looks at the surf between a gap of a temporary wood wall in an attempt to save from homes being flooded as crews rebuild the sand berm on the Peninsula in Long Beach Oct. 5, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
A lifeguard walks along the surf as crews rebuild the sand berm on the Peninsula in Long Beach Oct. 5, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
A woman takes cover under an umbrella as she walks downtown Long Beach after a slight downpour in Long Beach Oct. 3, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Rebecca Rodriguez, daughter, wipes tears from her eyes as the family of Jose Raul Corrales mourn his death the day after he was killed in a driveway shooting in Long Beach Oct. 10, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
One of Jose Raul Corrales grandkids sits next to his memorial the day after he was killed in a driveway shooting in Long Beach Oct. 10, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
SpaceX launch of the SAOCOM 1A satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base Oct. 7, 2018. The satellite was deployed about 12 minutes after launch. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will return to land at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base. This is SpaceX’s first attempt to land on the West Coast.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
A woman looks at the mangled cars as three people were hospitalized after a crash that smashed a fire hydrant and ended with one car at least partially on top of another at the 1100 block E. Wardlow in Long Beach Oct. 16, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Mexika Aztec dancer is framed within other Aztec dancers as they perform at the Long Beach 5th Annual Dia De Los Muertos Festival on Pine Avenue in Long Beach Nov. 2, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Kali Uchis performs at Tropicalia Festival at the Queen Mary in Long Beach Nov. 3, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Kali Uchis performs at Tropicalia Festival at the Queen Mary in Long Beach Nov. 3, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Robert de León kisses Jennifer Galindo on the cheek while the two attend Tropicalia Festival at the Queen Mary in Long Beach Nov. 3, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Marissa Ramirez, of Los Angeles, shades herself with a Morrissey fan while at the Tropicalia Festival at the Queen Mary in Long Beach Nov. 3, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova
Mary Jahn is led away in handcuffs after her sentencing in Long Beach Nov. 30, 2018. A Long Beach judge ordered the former Lakewood High School English teacher to serve three years in prison and register as a sex offender for life. Jahn, 53, was arrested in September 2017 after a former student alleged Jahn had sexually abused her for three years. The accusations included carving her initials into the student’s hip and practicing bondage on the victim while she was underage. She is now 25. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Matt Roberts is seen through the wheel of his bike as he takes photos of a subject. He will be releasing his book, Humans of Long Beach, in Long Beach.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova
Red light and smoke from dried sage leave highlight one of the Mexika Aztec dancers as they perform at the Long Beach 5th Annual Dia De Los Muertos Festival on Pine Avenue in Long Beach Nov. 2, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Jeremy Schott peers through a cat skeleton from inside his gallery, The Dark Art Emporium, in Long Beach Nov. 29, 2018.  Photo by Thomas R. Cordova
A Long Beach firefighters walk past as homeowner Elijah Hall, center, and his neighbor Howard Cooks, left, just outside the home as the Long Beach firefighter quickly put out a house fire on the 3600 block of Easy Street in Long Beach Nov. 7, 2018. Hall was not in the home of the time of the fire. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday, July 29, 2018, at Marine Stadium in Long Beach
Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer
Fred Taft’s family listens to speakers at a Community meeting at Lakewood Village Community Church on July 21, 2018.
Photo by Robert Casillas.
Fire department helicopters perform a flyover at the memorial service procession for Long Beach Fire Capt. David Rosa on Tuesday, July 3, 2018, at the Convention Center, Long Beach, CA. Photo by Robert Casillas
A sea of firefighters march to the memorial service during a procession for Long Beach Fire Capt. David Rosa on Tuesday, July 3, 2018, at the Convention Center, Long Beach, CA. Photo by Robert Casillas
Fire dancers perform during Twisted at The Pike in Long Beach on Saturday, July 14, 20818. Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer
Day two of Tropicalia Festival at the Queen Mary in Long Beach Nov. 4, 2018. Photo by Jose Romero III
Artist Amy Lodevico of Laveen, Arizona, smiles after winning the Frida look-alike contestant during The 18th Annual Frida Kahlo Artists Exhibit 2018 at Picture This Gallery in Long Beach, Ca., Sept. 30, 2018. Photo by John Valenzuela.
Paul Kopfstein, left, and Ryan Sweeney of the Long Beach Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue 6 climb up the Walter Pyramid during The READY Long Beach 2018 Emergency Preparedness Expo at Cal State Long Beach on Sept. 15, 2018. Photo by John Valenzuela.
Team Katten Muchin Rosenman participate during the Special Olympics Southern California annual Plane Pull at Long Beach Airport, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. The event to raise money for Special Olympics, a national organization celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Photo by John Valenzuela.
Hood Santa gives Jayden Reyes a pat on the head at the seventh annual Diamond Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec.15, 2018. This year’s event was at the Long Beach Women’s and Children’s Medical Clinic. Photo by Bill Alkofer.
A view of the inside of the U.S. Air Force aircraft at the 95th Anniversary Celebration of the Festival of Flight in Long Beach, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Photo by Kelly Smiley.
A view of the 22nd edition of the Long Beach Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Photo by Kelly Smiley.
An employee of the Aquarium of the Pacific picks up Jelly the sea turtle and carry Jelly back into the ocean in Seal Beach on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. Photo by Kelly Smiley
lauren woods talks about her art installation, American MONUMENT, on display at the University Art Museum in Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. Photo by Kelly Smiley.
Greek Festival goers hold hands in the Tsamiko Dance in Long Beach Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. Photo by Kelly Smiley
Snoop Dogg performs at the 2018 Summertime in the LBC, held at the Queen Mary Events Park, Saturday, July 7, 2018. Photo by Stephen Carr.
A large ice menorah is lit during Shul By The Shore’s event along Second Street in Belmont Shore on the first day of Hanukah. The celebration featured children’s crafts, music, hot latkes, doughnuts and drawings for prizes for the children. Photo by Stephen Carr.
rainstorm
Cal State Long Beach students pass by the Go Beach sign on campus, as rain fell in Long Beach most of the day Thursday. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Makai Satala, 5, stirs his drink during the 11th Annual Serving with a Thankful Heart banquet at McBride Park in Long Beach. Hosted by Vice Mayor and 6th District Councilman Dee Andrews, the banquet gave out free hot Thanksgiving meals on Nov. 19, 2018. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Runners along Shoreline Drive, during the 34th JetBlue Long Beach Marathon /Half Marathon Saturday, Oct. 7, 2018. Photo by Stephen Carr.
A runners stretches before the start of the 34th JetBlue Long Beach Marathon and Half Marathon, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2018. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Tattooed Aztec dancer Ruben Ochoa wears a large headdress as he and fellow dancers perform during the second annual Fiesta in the Park, hosted by Seventh District Long Beach City Councilman Roberto Uranga, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Beach Streets Twilight, held along Shoreline Drive. A shorter 1-mile route with two live music stages and family fun for all ages in Long Beach Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Elizabeth Flores gets a kiss from her fiancé LBPD recruit Daniel Tsoi-A-Sue, during the Presentation of Badges, at a graduation ceremony for the Long Beach Police Department Academy Class No. 92 at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, Terrace Theater. Aug. 23, 2018. Photo by Stephen Carr.
The Nation Fire Dancer Elyse Etherson perform during the 2018 Love Long Beach Celebration, held at Shoreline Aquatic Park. The celebration in its 5th year, featured music, food, DJ’s, yoga, sound baths, massages, tarot card readings and other vendors. Saturday, July 28, 2018. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Makayla Rosslow dances with a colored scarf during the 2018 Love Long Beach Celebration, held at Shoreline Aquatic Park. The celebration in its 5th year, featured music, food, DJ’s, yoga, sound baths, massages, tarot card readings and other vendors. Saturday, July 28, 2018. Photo by Stephen Carr.
Daniel Duran of Victorville Calif., Cools off with a ride down a giant waterslide, during Sun Soaked 2018, where D.J.’s performed on the sands of Long Beach. Saturday, July 21, 2018. Photo by Stephen Carr.
The start of the 70th Annual Catalina Ski Race, where competitors raced from Long Beach, around Catalina Island and back to Long Beach. Saturday, July 21, 2018. Photo by Stephen Carr.

 

Two firefighters embrace before the memorial service for Long Beach Fire Captain David Rosa as thousands attend the service in Long Beach July 3, 2018. Rosa was shot around 4 a.m. on June 25, while responding to a fire at a senior living home in Downtown Long Beach. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Long Beach Fire Department marches in to the Long Beach Arena to honor Long Beach Fire Captain David Rosa as thousands attend the memorial service in Long Beach July 3, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Pall Bearers walks the casket of Long Beach Fire Captain David Rosa past his Fire Engine No. 10 during a memorial service as thousands attend in Long Beach July 3, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
The wife and two sons of Long Beach Fire Capt. David Rosa walks into the memorial service as thousands attend the service in Long Beach July 3, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
The memorial service for Long Beach Fire Captain David Rosa as thousands attend in Long Beach July 3, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Firefighters from around Southern California and beyond salute to honor Long Beach Fire Captain David Rosa as thousands attend the memorial service in Long Beach July 3, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Alec Rosa walks off stage after talking about his father Long Beach Fire Captain David Rosa during a memorial service as thousands attend the service in Long Beach July 3, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
Long Beach Fire Department members walk out in a single file line for Long Beach Fire Captain David Rosa as thousands attend the memorial service in Long Beach July 3, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova
The Rosa family walks behind the casket of Long Beach Fire Captain David Rosa as thousands attend the memorial service in Long Beach July 3, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova